Magic Concepts from Dr. Strange Comics

[Dr. Doom]

Dr. Strange Comic books are making a revival. There are some magic principles embodied in the pictures and stories. It would probably be better to study the books that the authors of Dr. Strange used, to study magic, but I enjoy Dr. Strange comics. I tried to search for discussions of Dr. Strange comics, but found nothing. If someone knows of a thread that is already covering the topic, please let me know.

I just bought Volume 2, and I am going over the Dr. Strange No. 3 to 14. Dr. Strange fights strange forces of evil, and tries to protect his lover, Clea. Dr. Strange used energy eminating from his hands, he relied upon a mentor, and he used the power of an amulet. Dr. Strange formed his hands into certain positions to transmit energy.

I will try to add details of lessons I can learn from Dr. Strange. My theory is that Magic is mostly what I make it, rather than there is aparticular course to follow. I more take the approach of an independent thinker.

Blessings

[Rick]

Um, take this as friendly advice... if you come to this forum seriously suggesting that the Dr. Strange comic (of which I have been a big fan, BTW) is based on the study of magic or that the study of magic inspired the stories in the comics, you'll probably be more of a ridiculed thinker... just my two cents... but that Eye of Agamotto that he uses IS pretty cool...

[Dr. Doom]

Dear Rick,

So you have never found anything of magical value from the Dr. Strange Comics? You mean that everything is purely ficitonal, and of no real magical value?

Certainly it is good fun to ridicule people who read comic books. I will see if I can find any instances of practical postive magical value in Dr. Strange.

Blessings

[Rick]

No, I won't ridicule you for it... I'm nearly 50yrs old, and still read comics with relish when I can lay my hands on 'em, and used to enjoy Dr. Strange almost as much as "The Mighty Thor" (wasn't really sure if Doc Strange was even still around)... but unfortunately, if you mention comic books & serious study of magic in the same breath, well, I'm afraid that there are those here that will paint you into the same picture as the young fella that wants to conjure a phoenix, a djinn, Mrs. Claus, and the Grim Reaper... just fyi... heartfelt good luck on your endeavors

[Viseux]

I have no idea who Dr. Strange is, but...

Dr. Strange used energy eminating from his hands

I also use "Chi" energy manipulation. Energy emitted from my hands.

he relied upon a mentor

That's how I learned the above mentioned.

he used the power of an amulet

Anyone else here wear/use an amulet?

Dr. Strange formed his hands into certain positions to transmit energy.

Interesting. Reminds me of Ninjutsu finger weaving, which does that also, and which I still use.

I don't believe your going to learn how to use magic from a comic book, but this one has some concepts that are certainly worth exploring elsewhere.
As I have said, I use several of these principals myself in my personal practice.

Blessings,
Viseux

[raven grimassi]

Dr. Strange Comic books are making a revival. There are some magic principles embodied in the pictures and stories. It would probably be better to study the books that the authors of Dr. Strange used, to study magic, but I enjoy Dr. Strange comics.

I have collected Dr. Strange comics since he first appeared in the comic Strange Tales, and that was quite some time ago. I do not know of anyone who looks to the comic for magical instruction, but the original people behind the Dr. Strange comics were certainly aware of the basic occult arts.

What I liked about Dr. Strange, was that his powers came from his work and dedication to magic. He did not gain them from some mutation, radiation accident, alien experiment, or birth on another planet. All of his abilities came from what he earned.

What we find in the Dr. Strange figure is a sorcerer who was trained by a master who lived in a cave (a very old occult theme). Through his initiation, Dr. Strange was linked to a spiritual brotherhood, whom he called upon on many occasions. His stories are filled with episodes of astral projection, the use of magical energy, events linked to mystical tools and amulets, invocations & evocations, other dimensions of reality, and so forth.

I had heard that Dr. Strange was returning in a new comic series, but that he is quite a different character. I suppose the new market needs a new Dr. Strange, but both ideas seem a pity to me.

Best regards - Raven

[DebLipp]

I have a funny story about Dr. Strange.

Gazillions of years ago, when I was a teenager, there was a letter to the editor in the back of a Dr. Strange, basically saying "Would you like to know what a real witch/magician thinks of your comic book?" The letter proceeded to analyze the current story arc.

At that point in my life, I'd been unsuccessfully searching for Wicca/Witchcraft for about 3 years. In those days, no Internet, no books in mainstream bookstores, no nuthin'; and no successful contacts for me. I wrote to the author of the letter (his address was published) and he wrote back, and this correspondence was my first Pagan contact.

About 9 years later, Isaac Bonewits and I had begun to date rather seriously, and we were at a festival together. I was in the tent, supposedly napping, and he was talking to someone outside, and I overheard him (Isaac is a very audible person :bigblue: ). He was talking about the HP who initiated him into NROOGD and he mentioned the guy by name...

It was the same guy; the guy who'd written to Dr. Strange.

About a year later, I met him. :sunny:

Pretty amazing, huh? And all because of Dr. Strange.

[raven grimassi]

Thanks Deb, that's a fun story. I have only met a few people in the Craft who ever crossed paths with Dr. Strange, and always wondered about how many more of us where out there.

Best regards - Raven

[Dr. Doom]

DR. STRANGE REFERNCES BY TYPES OF MAGIC PRINCPLES
# is Dr. Strange Comic Number, and Page Number.


OTHER DIMENSIONS

Couples Only can enter the Realm of the Banished
Dr. Strange and Victoria Bentley#171, P 9


Banishment to unknown dimensions
Clea, #171, P. 8


MENTAL ETHEREAL MESSAGING


Mentally sending Ethereal Messages.
Victoria Bentley #171, P 6


PROTECTIVE SHIELDS:

Unscathable Shield Of the Sacred Sarphim, #171, P 15




MAGIC PRINCIPLES FROM DOCTOR STRANGE No. 175

Dr. Strange is walking on the city street in his magician tights, but passers by see him in a suit, and his cape appears only as a tranparent material flowing behing him. Wong, Dr. Strange's servant, comments that the business suit appearance was only a simple spell.

Sometimes I am over-dressed or under-dressed, so I suppose it is possible to create an apearance of being dressed differently than I am. I can just envison that I have dffernet clothes on, than I actaully have on. I can speak with the self-assurance that I am properly dressed for the occasion.

The study of Magic Books is advocated by Dr. Strange to understand teh forces of Evil, as he retires to his Libray, refered to as his Sanctum Sanctorum.

There is a library not far from my house, where I could study more magik. Reading Dr. Strange at home is more fun, so far.

Another power is mentioned to erase the memory of a cab driver with whom Dr. Strange received a ride.

So apparently we can blurr or erradicate a memory through through Magik.

Dr. Strange uses the Eye of Agomoto, to see what dangers befall the fair Clea. The Eye of Agomoto helps Dr. Strange see during astral projection.

Dr. Strange comments that his prayers to protect Clea were unanswered.

This means that prayers for protection sometimes work. Sometimes prayers for protection are unanswered. I personally believe that prayers for protection are righteous, and can be performed as simple religious prayers, or with Magic added for increased effectiveness.

Clea uses a force field generated from her wand to weaken the resolve of a thug who is atacking Wong, the faithful servant to Dr. Strange.

I personally study Aikido, and one principle is to avoid harm to yourself, but allow the energy of hte attacker to go past you and eventually dissipate. after atempting to harm hou, and your guiding the energy past you without aggressiveness.

An Evil magical spirit rescues Clea from thugs, by making her invisible in an alley.

I have been practicing making myself invisible in certain cirumstances on my job, where I am avoiding certain up-tight individuals, for the time being.

Mostly I use my meditation and visioning powers taught in the Silva Method as a step toward achiving magical illusions or altered realities.

Your Faithful Student of Dr. Strange.

[Aidron]

Admittedly, I know very little about Dr. Stranger. I never really knew about DC comics (He is DC, right?) and while I loved Marvel (not for the sake of Marvel, but my favorite super heroes and villains belonged to them) I still get the two confused and can't quite place every super hero in the one they really belong to.

Regardless, you probably will be mocked. Of course, Pagans are famous for mocking each other. The origin of this lies in self-esteem and limitations. Many Pagans, in their righteous attempt to appear serious, well versed in the occult and wise shun everything under the sun and moon about that is even remotely fictional. They also have issues relating to their own confidence, and thus if they can't do something they want to believe that it can't be done (although many do actually believe and just try to avoid accepting the idea that maybe they aren't skilled enough). These are fanatical Pagans (swell crowd, aren't they?) and they will shun everything from "The Craft" to "Charmed" to Dr. Strange comics and this and that, never even realizing that inspiration can come from any source to produce very valid and wise ideas and techniques. I was inspired by something I saw on "Charmed" once and wound up creating a very powerful past-life regression spell. I find fiction invigorating and inspirational, and while nothing is every totally fictional (there's a hint of truth to everything, even if it's only obvious basic truths; like the characters in a human and thus mortal). It's not that the fiction is therefore real because of this, but most people shun inspiration due to the aforementioned reasons why and mock those who don't. Personally, that suits me just fine. If they want to place limits on themself and never reach their full potential it's no sweat off my back. I certainly won't be doing the same to myself, however.

Maybe Dr. Strange comics do have more truth than fiction to them regarding the occult (I say 'maybe' because as I've stated I have not read them), but if not at the very least they could be yet another great source of inspiration to create very valid magical applications with, so like everything in life they're worth a look into. Of course, I hate comics (I can't stand to touch paper that they are made of, just like the pages of books and yes it is comical to watch me read at times in an attempt to not touch the pages too much) so I won't be getting inspired by Dr. Strange comics any time soon. :lol:

[Dr. Doom]

Dear Aidron,

Thanks for your post. Doctor Strange is a Marvel Comic. I believe the Dr. Strange character has appeared in other Marvel Comic Book titles.

I will attempt to address any riducule respectfully, and in good fun. Thanks for helping me understand that some possible motivations for ridicule might not be entirely at face vlaue, on their merits.

Some Dr. Strange Comics have been released in a book form, with the figures in black outline only. ISBN 0-7851-1668-0, Essential Dr. Strange, No.2. I have some of the comics in the orignal Dr. Strange comics in color, but I just bought the book. $16.99 so I could more comfortably have it around on my desk, and not overly worry about it falling on the floor, or getting crumpled under other books or files. I have my original comics stashed someplace, and have not come across them in my storage boxes for a while.

Part of the fiction, to me, is the writers of Dr. Strange have created evil characters to challenge Dr. Strange. I more ignore the plot and the drama portrayed, and try to understand the magic concepts that are demonstrated, or alluded to.

I have seen book holders that hold a book open to your selected page, so the book can be read without actually touching the book. I hereby cast a spell that all books you encounter will be magically cleaned, the ink sealed tight, and entirely safe to touch.

Thanks again for your thoughtful reply.

[Dr. Doom]

Index of Magic for Dr. Strange.

The pages are not numbered in the Essential Dr. Strange, so I am thinkin of numbering the pages from each comic, 175-5, etc. Since I like to jump around in my reading, I can simply enter the page number whenever a particualr topic is illustrated. Invisibility, Protection, Weakening, etc. So I will create my own index, and make comments on the applications I find useful.

Blessings

[whisper54]

At one time I was a real Dr.Strange fan so I can see where youre comeing from. I do worry that some will start believing he represents a certain 'path' of sorts. I have seen youngsters that believe the Buffy vampire show represents a true spiritual path. _witchball

All I can say is there is no short cut to the truth. leave fiction where it belongs and don't waste your time or energy trying to make it real. Perhaps the 'real' way is not as dramatic, glamorous or colorful but it has it's advantges. Spring is almost on us, put down the comics and go out and watch the trees bud, see the grass turning green, glory in the coming of another season. :adidas:

[AlAskendir]

Admittedly, I know very little about Dr. Stranger. I never really knew about DC comics (He is DC, right?) and while I loved Marvel (not for the sake of Marvel, but my favorite super heroes and villains belonged to them) I still get the two confused and can't quite place every super hero in the one they really belong to.

Regardless, you probably will be mocked. Of course, Pagans are famous for mocking each other. The origin of this lies in self-esteem and limitations. Many Pagans, in their righteous attempt to appear serious, well versed in the occult and wise shun everything under the sun and moon about that is even remotely fictional.


to their detriment. To me, comic books are the modern version of mythology, useful for the same reasons, if perhaps not quite as epic thru the continual repetition.

That being said, almost everything we humans get into can be used as a metaphor for metaphysics and existence - - - I'm sure the makers of Super Mario neither studied magick nor purposefully included things similar to it in the Super Mario game, but Super Mario makes a great lesson about life, death, reincarnation, how the player/ spirit learns more and more thru each incarnation (game), etc, etc, etc.

Lastly, the tales of Doc Strange were inspirational to quite a few modern pagans. It's not for nothing that my chosen magickal name is
' Random Al Askendir Xtranj' (that last 'word' is pronounced 'strange'). I ran across him first in the Defenders, because my childhood hero was the Incredible Hulk (he was huge, he was an intuitive genius, no-one told him to 'pick on people his own size', and when he got angry, he could express it completely!), but when the Hulk, Prince Namor, and Doc Strange got together, I got interested in Doc Strange and started reading and collecting his books also.


They also have issues relating to their own confidence, and thus if they can't do something they want to believe that it can't be done (although many do actually believe and just try to avoid accepting the idea that maybe they aren't skilled enough). These are fanatical Pagans (swell crowd, aren't they?) and they will shun everything from "The Craft" to "Charmed" to Dr. Strange comics and this and that, never even realizing that inspiration can come from any source to produce very valid and wise ideas and techniques. I was inspired by something I saw on "Charmed" once and wound up creating a very powerful past-life regression spell. I find fiction invigorating and inspirational, and while nothing is every totally fictional (there's a hint of truth to everything, even if it's only obvious basic truths; like the characters in a human and thus mortal). It's not that the fiction is therefore real because of this, but most people shun inspiration due to the aforementioned reasons why and mock those who don't.


Well done! I quite agree with you and applaud your confidence and intelligence in being able to phrase it so exactly! (and if I had any Karma left today, I'd be poking you)



Personally, that suits me just fine. If they want to place limits on themself and never reach their full potential it's no sweat off my back. I certainly won't be doing the same to myself, however.

Maybe Dr. Strange comics do have more truth than fiction to them regarding the occult (I say 'maybe' because as I've stated I have not read them), but if not at the very least they could be yet another great source of inspiration to create very valid magical applications with, so like everything in life they're worth a look into. Of course, I hate comics (I can't stand to touch paper that they are made of, just like the pages of books and yes it is comical to watch me read at times in an attempt to not touch the pages too much) so I won't be getting inspired by Dr. Strange comics any time soon. :lol:[/QUOTE]

[ibonewits]

I've been a big fan of Dr. Strange for the 30-40 years he's been published by Marvel; though I did start to ignore him when they made him into a standard issue(!) superhero, complete with spandex. Fortunately, that phase only lasted a few years.

One of the greatest accolades I've ever received was when I found out that one of the best authors for the series (Steve Englehart) used my book Real Magic as his source for magical theory, and that it was on the editorial shelves of Marvel Comics for many years.

Comics are modern mythology and can be just as inspirational as any other artform when transmuted through the hands of real artists. Any art form can be used by a magician, if he/she is willing to do the work necessary.

The current revival of Dr. Strange is a retelling of the core story, set in the 21st century instead of the 1960s; something both Marvel and DC have been doing with their most popular characters every twenty years or so. Sometimes it works well, sometimes not. I haven't decided about the new Strange series yet.

cheers,
Isaac _wiz_

[Dr. Doom]

Dear Whisper 54,

My process of Study of Dr. Strange is to expand my beliefs of the possible. By listing the settings of various acts of magic, I will have a reference of illustration of various options that I might apply to situations as they arise.

I have studied Latin. One guy said he translated a line every day to keep fresh. In your interests, you indicate Latin. Is there a reason you keep your Latin fresh?

I used to play the violin. Lately, I have been taken by the mello0w soothing sounds of the Viola. What opportunites are provided for your playing?

Blessings